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Québec City, April 3, 2018 – The Government of Québec has allocated an additional recurring amount of $1.5 million to the Commission d’accès à l’information in its 2018-2019 budget to assist the Commission in its mission. With this funding, the Commission will be able to fully assume its powers and duties in legal and surveillance matters under the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information (the Access Act).

Kathleen Weil, Minister responsible for Access to Information and the Reform of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for Relations with English-Speaking Quebecers, explains that this substantial financial supplement will enable the Commission to hire three new commissioners and ten additional resources, which will increase both its performance and the quality of the services it offers.

The mission of the Commission is to promote access to public body records and the protection of personal information in the public and private sectors, to provide surveillance, and to decide on the applications for review and examination of disagreements that are submitted to it.

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Greater transparency and protection of personal information are at the heart of the government’s direction and priorities. With a budget that now exceeds $7.5 million, the Commission d’accès à l’information will have the resources that will enable it to reduce application processing times for legal matters and encourage the use of mediation for the settlement of cases. Additional funds will also serve to broaden the Commission’s investigation and inspection activities.

– Kathleen Weil, Minister responsible for Access to Information and the Reform of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for Relations with English-Speaking Quebecers

Key points – the Commission d’accès à l’information:

Adjudication divisionAs an administrative tribunal, the adjudication division has the mandate to decide on requests for review of decisions made by public bodies under the Access Act, to the exclusion of any other court. It is also called on to make decisions on requests for examinations of disagreements under the Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector.
The Commission has implemented, in accordance with the Access Act, a free, voluntary and confidential mediation process to help parties settle out of court.

Oversight DivisionThe oversight division is responsible for ensuring the respect and promotion of access to documents and the protection of personal information. It has a mandate to monitor the application of the Access Act and the Private Sector Act, and it has the power to inspect and investigate matters relating to their application. These investigations may lead to orders and recommendations.